I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 33

‘Is that another whim?’

Zachary could only think so since his wife’s behavior had become inconsistent as of recent.

The Duchess of Argentine.

A teacher.

That would definitely make the headlines.

Not that it was ever going to happen, but Zachary kept his thoughts to himself.

There was no need to point out the obvious as it might embarrass her.

As he watched her closely over the past season, Zachary came to realize two things about his wife.

The first was that she sometimes tended to get angry when embarrassed.

It might have been amusing at first, but now Zachary felt a slight discomfort when that anger was directed towards him.

The second thing was that she was hiding something from him.

Zachary had already suspected that fact when he visited her for the third time.

Her eyes, as she refused him, held a feeling of guilt.

A guilt that ran deeper than simply denying him his right of sharing her bed.

As such, Zachary stopped visiting her room altogether.

The two of them weren’t close enough to confide in each other.

Zachary found it best to leave her some space, thinking that she would eventually come around.

If not for herself, then to avoid needless rumors that could very well ruin their marriage.

Yet the fact that she never did only confirmed his suspicions.

Even now, whether on a whim or not, the very fact that she thought of taking a job was very troubling.

Almost like she wanted to leave him.

‘How absurd.’

“Why would you need to work when you’re one of the wealthiest women in the kingdom?”

“You ask so many questions, yet you give me no answers.”

Erna said firmly.

He also understood well that she was referring to what he had ignored earlier.

✰✰✰✰✰

Lamenting over her words, Zachary stared back at her with an unknown expression.

Again.

Erna thought.

Why do you always do that?

A slight irritation rose as Zachary stared at her blankly.

“Are you expecting me to read your mind when you stare like that? Or are you perhaps trying to read mine?”

With a faint laugh that followed her words, Zachary relaxed his expression.

“A little of both.”

As though he lost all interest, he tossed the book on top of the others.

He then leaned over and placed his hands down on the edge of the table, trapping Erna between his arms.

With nowhere to fall back, she stared back into his eyes, hiding her embarrassment.

“So, did it work?”

Although he was now smiling, strangely enough, his eyes gave off a cold feeling of anger.

“Were you able to read some of my mind? Because I still have no idea what goes down in yours.”

His sentence ended in a cold voice.

✰✰✰✰✰

“7 years late.”

Zachary repeated in a dry voice.

No guilt, nor the slightest remorse.

‘How Shameless.’

That was the only thing that passed through his mind as his wife boldly uttered those words.

Unlike herself, Zachary was mature enough not to follow her reckless provocation.

Or at least so he thought.

But even as he tried to pass over it, his wife persistently wanted to drag him back to a meaningless quarrel.

What did you want to hear?

I’m sorry I didn’t live up to your expectations?

What upset him even more was the fact that she made him feel guilty about it.

Perhaps not today, but recently Zachary certainly started feeling regretful for not spending enough time with her.

That, however, didn’t change his feelings.

If you didn’t like it, why didn’t you say something?

Zachary didn’t ask because he already knew the reason.

His wife didn’t complain because she simply didn’t mind.

She didn’t mind that her husband held no feelings for her or that he was always away.

As proof to that, she never sent him a letter during his four years of absence.

Equally, Zachary didn’t mind that.

He never had expectations from her in the first place.

The two of them had a mutual understanding of each other.

Why now?

What changed?

It was not her feelings towards him but something else.

Something that he didn’t know of.

Thinking it over, Zachary became irritated.

“Why am I the only exception?”

‘Ah, Charl-’

“You’re also late to act like a mother.”

Spoken in a dry voice, Zachary’s words cut deep in her heart.

He certainly knew how to stir her feelings whenever he wished to.

Erna thought regrettably.

But his words this time were even crueler because they told the truth.